Main valve for dry-pipe automatic fire-extinguishing systems.



F. H. RICE. MAIN VALVE FOR DRY PIPE AUTOMATIC rm EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION IILED JAN.14, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

citizen of the United States, residing UNITE STATES PAIENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. RICE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

MAIN, VALVE. FOR DRY-PIPE AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 21,1912.

Application filed January 14, 1811. Serial No. 602,727.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANK H. RICE, a at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Main Valvcsfor Dry Pipe Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems, of which the following is a specification. I

The oflices, or general purposes, which dry pipevalves are intended to fill or supply, as well as the general construction and mode of operation. of their essential or fundamental features bein well known and understood by those ski led in the art, and the present invention being concerned only with the construction and arrangement of some of their minor elements, a rudimentary description of such valves is unnecessary at '20 this point. The object of the invention is to provide a valve of this class which shall be improved in its construction in the respect that the number of necessary parts is minimized,

its construction and operation simplified, its

efficiency assured and its operative parts 'made easy of access for the purposes of setting and resetting, inspecting, cleaning and other purposes.

To this end the invention consists in the features of novelty that are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying I drawing, which is made part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical .axial section of a main valve embodying the invention in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is a section showing "a detail thereof on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.' Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section of the valve embodying some features of the inventi on under a slight modification.

The casing, 1, of the valve is provided at bottom with an opening, 2, commumcatin "with any suitable source of water supply and having at top an outlet opening, 3, communicating with the riser of the system. The interior of the casing is divided into a cham- 'ber, 4, herein called the outlet chamber which is in constant open communication with the distributing system and a chamber, 5, which is called the low pressure chamber in that its-interior is maintained atatmospheric' pressure through a leak opening, 6,

that may be provided with a pctcock, 7 for preventing the accumulation of water in the low pressure chamber to an objectionable level. The formation of the two chambers, 4 and 5, is the result of a web or diaphragm, 8, having through it an opening in which is arranged a valve seat,9, and acheck valve, 10, of customary or any suitable construction adapted tosa'id seat, whereby the port through said seat may be opened or closed as may be desired. The valve, 10, is located in the outlet chamber 4 and seats downward against the seat, 9, through which the port connecting the chambers, 4 and 5, is formed, but while this valve is located ,in the outlet chamber, 4, it is jointed at 11 to the free end of an elbow lever, 12, which extends downward from the valve and into the low pressure chamber, 5, in which its upper end is pivoted, as at 13, to the body of the casing or suitable parts carried thereby.

In the inlet opening. 2, of the valve casing is arranged a valve seat, 14, through which is formed the port for the admission of water into the inlet or low pressure chamber. and to this seat is adopted a valve of 'SOIHtWlltlt novel construction for controlling this port. This valve consists primarily of a disk, 15, the top side of which has an annular depression, 16. and a central portion, 17, surrounded by this depression, which portion takes the form' of a stud or pin integral with the disk. 15, and rising centrally therefrom. 'It' is screwthreaded on its exterior in order to engage corresponding threads, 18. formed on the interior of a hollow bolt, 19. the exterior of which also provided with screw threads, 20,.wlnch engage correspmidmg internal threads of a nut, 21, which is attached to or formed with and as a part of clever, 22, arranged diametrically with respect to the valve disk. 15. One end of this lever is pivoted to the valve casing or a part carried thereby at 23. whence it crosses the. inlet valve diametrically and tcrminates at its free end in contact with the lower side of a art. 24. which ma be of an one of a'lur c' P s ing more nor less than a cylindrical block will prevent the point of contact between builder.

inlet va ve (or the lover,

the members 24 and 25 of the strut from reaching a straight line drawn from 'the pivotal center of the movement, T3, of the member 25 to the point of'contact, 26, between the member 24 and the lever 22, the result being that the strut is prevented from becoming locked while it is permitted to buckle in one direction only. after the manner of a toggle. Thus, it will be seen there is a constant tendency on the part of the waterprcssure on the under side of the inlet valve to unseat said valve and that there is a constant tendency upon the part of the air pressure in the system to prevent this unscating of the inlet valve, notwithstanding the water pressure. And with the parts constructed and arranged .as shown in the drawings the lowair pressure in the system aided by the differentials ot' the valves and the levers and the powerful toggle-like action of the two-part strut, will hold the inlet valve seated in opposition to the greater water pressure acting against it. The toggle aciion oi the strut is particularly advantageous in holding the inlet valve seat ed, since it is more positive and ell eclivc in resisting water lnmnner-than the yielding pressure of, the air confined in the system is. The possible va'riatiol'ls in these dillcrc'utials in order that the described resul s may be accomplishml. are practically innumerable and therefore no attempthas been made lo illustrate them in crufc'nso, this being a meclmnical. detail which may be lcl't to the it will, ol. course, be understood by those skilled in the art that if the preponderance in favor of, say, the air in the system is to be increasedto meet an abnormal or unusually lngh pressure in the watel" supply, this may be. done by increasingllle diameter ol? the valve, [0, or decreasing the diameter ol.'' the valve, '15, or both, or changing the relative lengths of the arms ol any one or more of the levers.

As before started, the parts, ll; and 25, constitute in ell'ect a two-part strut having a togghwlike action interposed between the 2'15, carrying it) and-the ultimate lixed abulmcntor resistance and as shown inl ig. l the three cardinal points of this strut are only slightly ott' center.

Like a toggle joint its holding power or resistance against bending 0i buckling is' greatly against the forending to buckle it, and to a correspondnlg de gree in favor of the forcetending to prevent its buckling,

For the purpose of adjusting theparts which intervene or are interposed between the two valves, 10 and 15, so that the valves will both firmly seat at the same time, the connections between the two valves are so made that they may be adjusted and thus lengthened or shortened, as it were. For instance, the threads, 18, and 20, on the interior and exterior, respectively, of the hollow bolt, 19, are right and left: Thus, assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 1. if both valves, 10 and 15, are not lirmly seated, by turning the bolt, 19, in the proper direction. the valve disk, 15 and lever, 22, will be forced apart or drawn together, and the connection between the two valves thereby lengthened or shortened, as the case may be.

The, member, 24. floats freely, and is notconnected to any of the other parts excepting that it is confined to contact with the [lat surface, 27, on the inner face of the cap, 28, by means of certain parts which are formed integrally with the cap, 28, and may be termed acagc. This cage may consist ot. 'lwo parallel webs or flanges, 29, which are just sulliciei'itly far apart. to permit. the member, 24, to move freely between them, without contact, and the inner t'aces of these webs or flanges are'provided with grooves. :30. respectively, which are occupied loosely by gmlgeons, 3i, projecting from opposil'e 'laccs oi. the cylindrical member. ll, so that the giulgevms can not escape 'l'rom aid grooves, and consequently the cylindrical member, ill, can not escape from its cage, so long as the cage remains in place shown in l igs. l and 2. \lhcn the cap plate, 2%, is removed. carrying the cage with it, the cylindrical member, 2|, may, it desired, be, removed.

It will be understood that each time the valve operates. '1'. 11., each time the valve dishs, l() and 15. unseat and open the water way, the cylindrical incinbcr, ill, will, be movedupward by the lever, 32, and will again fall back. by gravity, tolhc position shown in Fig. l as soon as the end of the lever has escaped upward l'rom it, The reselling ol the valve is then accomplished by hand-in customary manner, a suitable hand holc'lor this purpose being shown at 32. I l

The form ol the invention shown in l ig. i3 dill'crs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 principally in llle construction ol the [loating slrul member. In Fig. I) this sl rut member, 2i, lillflh' the 'l'orm o l an open triangle. interposed between the angle ol the elbow, lever, 12, and the lever, 22, of thc'inl'ct valv: 1

in substantially the same manner as has already been described with reference to the cylindrical strut member, 24., In both forms of the invention the valve casin has a straight water way and the va ves are swung oppositely, z'. 6., so as to move in opposite directions in unseating, so that when they do unseat, they move entirely out of the water way so as to leave it unobstructed.

In order to provide clearance between the levers, 12 and 22, whatever their positions, the former is slotted as shown at 32.

When the valve 15 is once unseated it is prevented from again automatically seating itself by the floating member, 24.

What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A main valve for automatic fire extinguishers having a casing, said casing having a chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of Water, a secondchamber communicating with the system, and a port through which said chambers communicate, in combination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, and means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure from one to the other, said transmitting means having a strut comprising two members contacting with each other and operating after the manner of a toggle, a fixed abutment on which the outer end of one of said members is fulcrumed, and means interposed between one of said members and one of said valves, whereby the air pressure normally prevents the buckling of the strut.

2A main valve for automatic fire extinguishers having a casing, said casing having a chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber comf municating with .the system, and a port through which said chambers communicate, in combination with vz1lvs.mlapte(l to said ports, respectively, and means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure from one to the other, said transmitting means having a strut comprising two members contacting with each other and operating after the'mannerof a toggle, and means interposed between one of said members and the valve forcontrolling the port through which the chambers communicate,

whereby the air pressure normally prevents the buckling ot' the strut.

3. A main valve for automatic fire extinguishers having a casing, said casing having a chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber communicating with the system, and a port through which said chambers communicate, in combination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, and means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure fromone to the other, said transmitting means havlng astrut comprising two members contacting witheachother and operating after the manner of a tog 1e and means interposed between one 0; said strut members, adjacent to its point of contact with the other strut member, and the valve for controlling the port through which the chambers communicate.

A nlain valve for automatic fire extina chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber communicating with the system, and a port through which said chambers communicate, "in combination with valves adapted to said ports respectively and means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure from one to the other, said transmitting means having a strut comprising two members contacting with each other and operating after the manner of a toggle, and a stop for preventing the strut members from reaching the dead center.

"guishers having a casing, said casing having a'chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber communicating with the system, and a port through which said chambers communicate, in combination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure from one to the other, said transmitting means having a lever fulerumed at one end in the chamber 'first aforesaid, means interposed between the free end of said lever and one of the valves, and a strut member contacting with the lever at an intermediate point, that portion of the lever which is between its fulcrum and its point of contact with said strut member formin the other of two strut members operating after the manner of a prevents the buckling of the strut.

6. A main valve for automatic fire extinguishers having a casing, said casing having a chamber, a port opening theremto forthe inlet of water, a second chamber communieating with the system, and a port through which said chambers communicate, in combination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, a lever fultarumed at one end in the chamber first afore'said and at its free end engaged by the valve. controlling the port through which thetchambers communicute, :1 strut member one point ofwhich contacts with the lever at an intermediate point and menus for transmitting pressure from the other end of said strut member to the inlet valve.

7. A main valve for automatic fire extinguishers havinga casing, said casing having a chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber communieating with the system, and aport through which said chambers communicate, in com- 5. A main valve for automatic fire extin-.

guishers having a casing, said casing having toggle, whereby the air pressure normally bination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, and means mterposed between the valves for transmlttmg pressure from one to the other, said transmitting means 8. A main valve for automatic lire extin guishers having a casing, said casing having a chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber communicating with the system, and a port through which said chambers eonnnnnicate, in eombination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, and means interposed be ween said valves for transmittingpressure from one to the other, said transmitting means having a bentlever one end of which is Yul crumed in the chamber tirst aforesaid and the tree end of which is engaged by the valve for controlling the port through which the chambers communicate, a lloating incinbcr of a, t\v-opart strut contacting with the lever at an intermediate point, the other member of said strut being formed by that portion of the lever itself which lies between its t'ulcrnm amt its point; oi contact. with the member first. at'oresaid, and a stop for timiting the movement of the point; of contact be-- tween th strut. members toward the dead center.

t). main valve for automatic tire extinguishers having'a casing, said casing having a "hambcr, a port opening thereinto tor the inlet ot' water, a second chamber communicating with the S Vhttlll illhl a port through which said chambers communicate, in rombination with valves adapted to said ports, respectively, amt means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure t'rt in one to the other, said transmitting means having a lever engaging the inlet valve, a bent lever t'ulcrumcd at one end in the chamher first at'orcsaid and at its tree end engaged hr the valve which controls theport through which the chambers connnunicatc, and a member ot a two-part strut, one end ol 'which member engages the lever lirst at'oresaid, while its other end contacts with the bent lever at an intermediate point. that portion of the bent lever which lies between said point otcontact and its pivotal point t'orming the other member ot thcstrut. which operates alter the manner of a toggle.

to. A main valve for automatic tire extinguishers having a casing, said casinghav ing a chamber, a port opcnmg thcreinio for at an intermediate point; by the strut memher first atoresaiihthe free end of said lever being held in operative position by the pressure of the air in the system, whereby the strutis prevented from buckling.

It. A main valve for automatic fire ex tinguishers having a casing, said easinghav ing a chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet. of, water, a second chamber communicating with the s \'stclil, and a port; through which said chambers eonnnunicate, in combination with valves adapted to said ports, respecti ely, and means interposed between said valves for transmitting pressure trom one valve. to the other,sai'dtl'ansn'iitting means having a two-partstrnt operating after the manner of a toggle, one member of said strut being in the form of a tloating cylinder, and means for guiding said tloating cylinder in its movements and confining it to operative positions.

1'). A, main valve for automatictire extinguishers having a casing, said casing, havinga chamber, a port opening thereinto for the inlet of water, a second chamber com municating with thesystem, and a portthrongh which said chambers comnmnieate, in combination wit'hvalves adapted to said ports, respectively, means interposed between said valves t'or transmitting pressure from one to the other, and means for preventing the rcseatmg ot? the inlet valve, said transnutting means having a strut e0mprising two members contacting with each other and operating alter the manner of a toggle, one ot said members being floating and adapted to rccede as the inlet valve opens and tall back to its normal position [or preventing the resenting ot' the inlet valve.

13. A main valve for automatic lire extinguishers having a valve disk provided with an externally screw threaded pin or stud, a hollow screw having on its interior threads tan-responding to the threads on the pin amt having on its exterior threads pitched in the opposite direction. a nut having-threads complemcntarv to the threads last a loresaid, a lever tulcrumcd at one end and carrying said nut and mcanscngaging said lcvcr for forcing the valve to its scat.

ll. main valve for automatic t re extinguishers having a valve disk provided with a screw thread, a lever provided with a screw thread pitched in the opposite direction and a third part interposed between the valve disk and lever and having right and left threads, complementary to the threads of the valve disk and lever, respectively.

15.-A main valve for'automatic fire extin uishers having a casing provided with a c amber communicating with the system, a second chamber having a port for the inlet of water, and a port through which said chambers communicate, of a valve located in the chamber first aforesaid for controlling the port through which the chambers 15 communicate, a bent lever to the free end of which said valve is connected, whence said lever extends through said port and into the chamber second aforesaid where it is pivoted, a valve "for cont-rolling the inlet 20 port, and means interposed between the two valves for transmitting pressure from one to the other.

FRANK H. RICE.

\Vitnesses:

ANnnnw OLSEN, L. M. I'IOI'KINS. 

